We raise our children, then instruct them to go to school, study hard, get good grades, attend college and “GET A GOOD JOB.” Now, I absolutely agree with the importance of getting a good education, yet realistically, college is not for everyone.
Education should teach our children how to make a living. Whether it is high school, college or technical school, the question that now comes to mind is, “With the government cutting back and refusing to create jobs, and the large and small corporations laying off hundreds and thousands of workers, while outsourcing jobs overseas, where are the GOOD JOBS?”
Is is time to rethink the instruction we give to our children? Is it time to raise the bar? Instead of setting the goal of getting an education for the purpose of getting a GOOD JOB or GETTING AHEAD — whatever that means — getting ahead of whom? How about we encourage our children and young people to get an education and learn how to CREATE JOBS. With this we can foster economic growth, provide employment opportunities and solve a larger and deeper looming issue.
Even with this model, the support of the local merchants is still vital in order to fuel and fund such a community infrastructure.
Here's a sidebar to the existing businesses as we ponder on how to build and expand:
If we are going to thrive in business and community, we have a responsibility to those whom we service. There are some crucial action items and guidelines by which we must abide. Here are a few things I'll leave you with based upon my personal observations:
1. Clear out the front of your store, windows and entryways so that passer-byes can see inside. It creates an inviting atmosphere and encourages customers to visit.
2. Open and Close at a designated time. This builds integrity and trustworthiness. If you are closed when customers come to patronize, many will go elsewhere and may never come back. It ruins your credibility and fuels an already unwritten stigma of black-owned establishments.
3. Even if you advertise, you must be visible from the street. Trim trees, clean windows, erect signs so that they can be seen. You invested in your business, but consumers need to know you are there.
Tune in again next week for more thought provoking ideas.
Clarence V. Matthews
The Elder's Ledger
Reclaiming the Village, One Topic at a Time
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